The annual Rudra Ekadashi Homam for Universal Peace, hosted by Region 4, was conducted on Sunday 6th July. This year’s Homam was especially auspicious, as it coincided with Ashadi Ekadashi – a sacred day marking Lord Vishnu’s four-month celestial rest.

The day began with a Lingam procession, as the Lingam Pallak was carried from the Shirdi Baba shrine, at the Shri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple, to the marquee where the Rudram chanting would take place. The grand entrance of the Lingam was accompanied by the powerful resonance of Vedic chanters, and as the priests welcomed the Lingam with an Aarti, the sisters sang a beautiful Swagatam (welcome song). Swami’s presence was felt amongst all who were gathered. The Lingam was then placed onto a table, and the priests commenced the Pooja, chanting the following Vedic mantras: Ganesh Prarthana, Punyahavachanam, and Kalashasthapanam.

Brother Mahesh Narayan delivered a welcome address, speaking on the significance of the Vedas, with Rudram described as the supreme prayer among them. He explained how chanting the Rudram invokes Lord Shiva in the aspirant’s heart, a Lord who was never born and can never die. Therefore, the Rudram grants an individual a sense of immortality, cleansing sins (though he cheekily reminded everyone this wasn’t a free pass to commit them!).

Following the address, participants chanted the Sai Gayatri mantra 108 times before the Ekadasa Rudra Abishekam began. The Rudram chanting, led by a powerful team of Vedic chanters, consists of two parts: Namakam and Chamakam. During the Ekadasa Rudra Abishekam, the Namakam was chanted eleven times, each followed by a verse (Anuvaka) of the Chamakam. After each Namakam, the priest performed Aarti to the Lingam, and special prayers for Lokakshemam (global well-being) were offered in Sanskrit and English. While the main Abishekam was ongoing, devotees simultaneously conducted individual Paduka Poojas under priestly guidance.

Upon completing the eleven rounds of chanting, the priests carried out the Vasordhara, a sacred ritual in which ghee is poured continuously into a fire, followed by the Poornahuti, the final offering ritual, where grains, fruits, flowers, and other sacred items are placed into the fire. This was followed by the Kalashabhishekam, the ceremonial pouring of holy water from consecrated Kalashams (pots), and an Abishekam of the Lingam using those same waters.

Next came the Maha Alankaram (decorating of the Lingam) and the Maha Naivedyam (offering of food to the Lingam). While these took place, Young Adults offered a variety of Ashtakams (eight-verse prayers), Suktams (Vedic hymns), and bhajans.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. As the Lingam stood beautifully decorated, the screens were opened to reveal the darshan of the Lord. The decorations were ornate and breathtaking, adding a divine glow to the day’s sacred energy. As the priests offered prayers for world peace, a moving Tevaram recital (devotional hymn) was delivered by one of the sisters. The programme concluded with Aarti and Maha Prashadam.